In recent weeks, we’ve been supporting a number of initiatives designed to help ordinary families through the cost-of-living crisis and, in particular, with the challenges faced during the cold winter months.
The latest example of this involves the social housing provider Incommunities, which recently launched a scheme called ‘Lightening the Load.’ Its aim is to support those who need help with heating, eating healthily and staying warm over the winter.
Through the initiative, it is providing local families and individuals with household items such as slow-cookers and kettles to ensure that they are able to enjoy a hot meal and a warm drink. It is also offering extra-warm duvets and blankets, new winter coats and boots, hats and scarves, hot water bottles and many other items.
When Incommunities invited SBS and other supply chain partners to get involved, we were very happy to help. We quickly organised the purchase of ten £25 supermarket vouchers, which will enable residents to buy essential foods and other staples without running down their own household budgets.
We are also supporting local residents in more lasting ways, of course. Working in Bradford, we are currently installing a range of energy efficiency measures to 102 non-traditional homes. Some of those measures include external wall insulation, new double glazing and doors. The scheme is part-funded by Wave 1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and is expected to help residents to save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills every year.
